Page 91 of Playing With Fire

“Can we come in?” Jodi’s smile was cool. In the harsh interior light, the damage to her outfit was laid bare; muddy hems, rips in her pants, and a long streak of something brown on the shoulder of her coat. Her hair was like a bird’s nest and her face was pale and set.

Ricky clamped his lips together. This was Jodi’s show.

The seconds ticked past.

“Why?” Bonnie flicked back a long curly lock, drawing attention to her cleavage. Both men immediately looked away.

“Because we think that Joshua and Judah are in your office.”

Bonnie’s eyes flew open. Her glossy red lips formed an “O” of shock.

“That’s...outrageous, even from a bottom-feeding reporter like you!” Her eyes moved to Ricky, and she pouted, disappointed. “If you all don’t leave right now, I’m calling 911 and my lawyer.”

Silas made a low sound deep in his chest. Now that he was here, he seemed ready to stand there the whole night. His hand stroked Jaime’s small back in a long slow rhythm.

Ricky dredged up some of that old authority. His folded arms and steady stance said that he wasn’t going anywhere soon, either.

A vaguely unpleasant smell of disinfectant, soiled laundry, and air freshener hung in the stale, warm air. Wheels squeaked in the corridor and a television briefly blared the opening notes of the news before it was cut off.

Ricky hoped Jodi had a Plan B.

Bonnie rolled her eyes. “For goodness sake,” she muttered ungraciously. She opened her office door with a flourish and stood to one side.

Ricky followed the others into the empty office. There was a pizza box on the desk, and a bunch of files. He glanced at Jodi, whose face had drained of color, and then at Bonnie's triumphant smile.

“While you are here, do have a look in the bathroom,” Bonnie purred.

Ricky braved her withering glare. He poked his head inside the small and rather untidy bathroom which smelled of cosmetics and deodorant.

Nothing.

Jodi shook her head numbly. Her eyes drifted around the office. A couple of visitor chairs, a small television on the wall, a large desk. That was it.

Ricky’s heart thumped loudly in his chest. He couldn’t stop himself glancing at the wall clock. Five o’clock.

“Satisfied? Then leave. I’m sure Daddy will be in touch. And probably the owners of that Monitor rag as well.”

Ricky took a deep breath, trying to gather the words to soften the humiliating exit which must now follow.

Later tonight he would compose his resignation text, but for now, his thoughts were focused on Jodi. And on the two boys who were still missing. Most likely drifting through the underworld of New York City, just like the Chief had said.

Silas sighed. He shifted the heavy soft bundle that was Jaime onto his other shoulder, startling her from her doze.

The curly head lifted. Jaime looked around, outraged at the deception which had been practiced on her. Where was her mother and her bed?

“Joshie!” she yelled into Silas’ ear. “Judy!”

A moment of silence. Then the closet door, which had been set into the wall so cleverly that it was hardly visible, burst open. Out tumbled two large, rumpled boys.

***

It took some time for the uproar to die down. Time during which Ricky contacted the local police to call off the hunt and sent a text to Sally Lett which effectively cut short Chief Leroy Browning’s opening remarks mid-sentence.

Silas Beecham gathered up his children and took them home.

Jodi and Ricky sat silently on the visitor chairs.

Bonnie Browning had refused pointblank to utter a word until her rather bewildered father turned up, loaded for bear.

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